Former QUIET RIOT/OZZY OSBOURNE/current DIO bassist Rudy Sarzo spoke to Deb Rao from GlamMetal.com recently about his new book, Off The Rails, his extensive career, and how the resurgence of metal is once again finding it's way into the heart of young aspiring musicians across the country. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Deb Rao: Tell me what inspired you to write your Tribute to Randy Rhoads?

Sarzo: "In the 25 years since Randy’s passing, I’ve had numerous fans around the world ask me what it was like to play with Randy. Every time I would briefly share my memories with the fans, I always walked away feeling that I hadn't said enough. There is so much more to say about Randy. So I figured, I would write everything that I know, all of my memoirs and all of the information that I have regarding Randy and me put it into a book form, so I won't feel that I left anything out. I felt I could not pay Randy homage in a five minute conversation. It is all there."

Deb Rao: How do you remember Randy Rhoads? Would you like to share your thoughts and memories with us about Randy?

Sarzo: "Randy Rhoads was an amazing musician, teacher, musician, friend, performer and composer. Also, Randy was responsible for getting me in Ozzy’s band and for keeping the plane from crashing into our tour bus and saving the lives of us who were sleep in the bus. So you see, the book is my way of me saying 'Thanks Randy"'

Deb Rao: March 19, 2007 recently marked the 25th Anniversary of the tragic death of Randy Rhoads. As a musician, how have you seen the Randy Rhoads legacy live on?

Sarzo: "Randy's legacy is still growing. Almost everyday I get messages on MySpace from young fans who have discovered him through their parent’s CD collection. Most of the guitar players of today, have been influenced by '80's guitar players. I can probaly say, I was influenced a lot from the 70's guitar players such as HENDRIX. Randy had an unique sound."

Deb Rao: Actually, you were the only person to perform with Randy in both Quiet Riot and Ozzy. It must have been a true honor for you.

Sarzo: "I was blessed. It gave me the opportunity to see the two sides of Randy’s guitar playing. There was the Randy with Quiet Riot, and the Randy with Ozzy. The Randy with Quiet Riot had a lot of restrictions that were set by what the industry in Los Angeles was all about. Let's face it; Quiet Riot was a band that was looking for a record deal. So we were pretty much at the mercy of what the industry was dictating. The last metal band to get signed out of the 70’s was Van Halen. Right after that, they shut the door."

By then the record companies had already started signing bands like THE KNACK, THE MOTELS, and DEVO, new wave bands. Even back then, they were claiming that 'metal is dead. That's it, no more metal. You have to take into consideration, there was no Internet. Very few in the L.A. music industry were aware about the new wave of metal that was burgeoning England, such as MOTÖRHEAD, IRON MAIDEN, SAXON, DEF LEPPARD, etc. The industry was just focusing on what was outside of their door. What was happening on The Sunset Strip? What bands were coming in from let's say Ohio? So Devo comes into town. These guys are new and different. So they signed them almost immediately. They didn't care about all of the LA bands that were around doing metal or hard rock or glam.

So once Randy left LA and joined Ozzy’s band in England, Ozzy asked him, 'Just be yourself, just compose what comes to you naturally.' So Randy had no restrictions to play and compose in a style that he really wanted.

I also want to add that Randy’s version of Quiet Riot was a blend of SWEET, THE FACES, and a bit of QUEEN, among a few other influences of '70s rock. Quiet Riot became heavier, the second time around. I have to give a lot of that credit to the way that Frankie plays his drums. Frankie gave it more a heavier edge to it, more of a drive. More of that John Bonham feel and sound to it, and made it heavier. So to me, there were two completely different Quiet Riots."

To read the entire interview head to this location.